PRESS BRIEFING BY THE UNITED NATIONS INFORMATION SERVICE
16 August 2022
Repatriation of Syrian refugees from Lebanon
Responding to a question from a journalist, Shabia Mantoo, for the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), reiterated the UNHCR principle that every refugee return had to be voluntary. Syrian refugees across the region were telling UNHCR that they remained concerned about a variety of factors related to repatriation, including instability in Syria and ability to provide for their livelihoods.
Monkeypox
Fadéla Chaib, for the World Health Organization (WHO), replying to questions, confirmed that the WHO was working on renaming the monkeypox disease. Everyone was welcome to propose a new name through an open consultation via an online platform. The goal was to find a name which would not be stigmatizing, cause offense, or expose any human or animal group to danger. For the time being, the focus was on monkeypox, not other diseases.
Announcements
Alessandra Vellucci, for the United Nations Information Service, informed that the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination was concluding this morning the review of the report of Azerbaijan. This afternoon, it would begin consideration of the report of Slovakia.
The Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities had opened its 27th session on 15 August and would begin the review of the report of China on 17 August.
The Conference on Disarmament, still under the presidency of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, was having this morning a public plenary meeting.
Regarding the World Humanitarian Day on 19 August, Jens Laerke, for the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), said that there could be interview opportunities. Ms. Vellucci added that the event at the Palais des Nations would be held in Room XX and would be webcast at UNTV.
Fadéla Chaib, for the World Health Organization (WHO), informed about a webinar with Dr. Janet Diaz, WHO's Lead for COVID-19 Clinical Management Response, and other experts. The webinar, which would look into the post-COVID-19 conditions in children, would be held on 17 August from 1:30 to 3:30 pm.
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Press Conferences | OCHA , UNHCR
Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section at the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by the spokespersons of the United Nations Refugee Agency and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
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Press Conferences | WHO , ILO
Rolando Gómez, Chief of the Press and External Relations Section at the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by the spokespersons and representatives of the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization.
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Press Conferences | UNODA
Preparatory Committee for the 2026 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT): second session
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Press Conferences | FAO , WFP
Media launch of the 2024 State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World Report (SOFI)
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Press Conferences | UNHCR , OHCHR , UNICEF , WHO
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chaired a hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives of the World Health Organization, the United Nations Human Rights, the United Nations Refugee Agency, and the United Nations Children’s Fund.
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Press Conferences | WHO , WMO , ILO
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, which was attended by spokespersons and representatives from the World Health Organization, the World Meteorological Organization, and the International Labour Organization.
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Press Conferences | UNCTAD
Publication of the Digital Economy Report 2024: Shaping an environmentally sustainable and inclusive digital future
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Press Conferences | OHCHR , WHO , OCHA , UNHCR , WFP
Alessandra Vellucci, Director of the United Nations Information Service in Geneva, chairs a hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR).
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Press Conferences | FAO , IFRC , OCHA , WHO
Rolando Gómez of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, the World Meteorological Organization, the Food and Agricultural Organization and the World Health Organization.
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Press Conferences | IOM , mcc , UNHCR
UNHCR IOM MCC Report on risks faced by refugees and migrants on the Central Mediterranean route - "On this journey, nobody cares if you live or die"
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Press Conferences | HRC , IOM , ITU , UNCTAD , UNHCR , UNICEF , UNRWA , WHO , WMO , OCHA
Alessandra Vellucci of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) in Geneva, chaired the hybrid briefing, attended by spokespersons and representatives of the United Nations Children’s Fund, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the International Organization for Migration, the World Meteorological Organization, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, the World Health Organization, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Trade and Development and the International Telecommunication Union.